Ankle decisions — 2020

The Board denied service connection for various knee, elbow, neck, and hand disorders due to a lack of current diagnoses or evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's claims of entitlement to earlier effective date for TDIU, increased rating for right knee disability, and reopening left ankle disability claim are being remanded due to the need to obtain a copy of the examiner's Curriculum Vitae.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for his right ankle sprain, finding that the evidence did not support a finding of marked limitation of motion and thus the current 10 percent rating was appropriate.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his left ankle disability due to outstanding medical records and need for a new VA examination.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left shoulder and right ankle disabilities as secondary to service-connected bilateral pes planus due to an inadequate VA examination report.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, right knee disorder, left knee disorder, right ankle disorder, and left ankle disorder are remanded due to inadequate examinations and lack of consideration of the Veteran's lay statements regarding the onset and continuity of his symptoms.

The case is remanded due to the need for further development regarding convalescent benefits and rating of right ankle posterior tibialis tendon dysfunction.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for lumbar spine, right ankle, and left ankle disorders due to insufficient evidence regarding their relationship to service. Additional VA medical opinions are needed.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral ankle tendonitis.

The Board has determined that further development is required to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed bilateral foot disorder, low back disorder, bilateral knee disorder, bilateral ankle disorder, and sleep disorder. The case is being remanded for VA examinations.

The Board has decided that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss or sinusitis, and therefore denied service connection for these conditions. The left ankle disability claim is remanded due to insufficient medical opinion.

The Veteran's hypertension is currently rated as 10 percent disabling. The Board has found that the evidence does not support a higher rating due to lack of diastolic pressure predominantly 110 or more or systolic pressure predominantly 200 or more.,Left ankle and back disabilities are being remanded for additional examinations.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and medical opinions. The TDIU claim is also being remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the other issues.

The Board denied service connection for cervical stenosis, degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, DJD of left shoulder, left knee disability, and left ankle fracture residuals. The Board found that there was no evidence in the service records supporting these conditions or their onset during service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions and need for additional evidence. The issues include bilateral knee conditions, cervical spine condition, thoracolumbar spine condition, bilateral ankle conditions, partial loss of use of lower extremities, and sleep apnea.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted an initial disability rating of 70 percent, effective November 14, 2011.,An increased rating for the left ankle sprain prior to March 15, 2019, is denied. From March 15, 2019, a higher rating of 20 percent was granted.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for updated VA examinations and records from SSA.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left foot condition and left ankle condition, finding insufficient evidence of a current disability related to these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of beneficiary travel expenses associated with dental treatment to and from the VAMC in West Haven, Connecticut is denied as he was not entitled to such payments due to VA regulations requiring reimbursement from his points of entry into the United States.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for various conditions, including an acquired psychiatric disorder, left ankle disorder, prostate cancer (secondary to asbestos exposure), right knee disorder, lower back disorder, tinnitus, and sarcoidosis. The claims are being reviewed due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran.